Inter scores twice in the first half to take a 2-0 lead over AC Milan in their UEFA Champions League semi-final match.

Inter Milan advanced to the Champions League final with a 2-0 win over AC Milan in Wednesday's pulsating last-four derby.

Early goals from Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have given Inter the upper hand ahead of Tuesday's second leg of the biggest Milan derby in a generation.

Simone Inzaghi's side were deserving winners at the San Siro, having created the majority of the chances and barely allowing Milan a sniff in front of goal.

Inter could have won by more after Hakan Calhanoglu hit the post and Dzeko squandered a great chance early in the second half, but they remain heavy favorites to reach the final of Europe's top club competition for the first time since they won it 13 years ago.

Reaching the final would be especially sweet for Inter because it would avenge semi- and quarter-final defeats to Milan in 2003 and 2005.

The winner of the tie will face either holders Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final on June 10 in Istanbul. On Tuesday, the first leg of that semi-final ended 1-1 in Spain.

Milan, who also hit the crossbar through Sandro Tonali, have their work cut out if they want to be crowned European champions for the eighth time, and will be hoping Rafael Leao is available for next week's crucial match.

The absence of star man Leao left Milan without a key attacking threat, allowing Inter to play more aggressively knowing their opponents lacked the Portugal winger's pace.

There is only one team in it.

The San Siro was nearly full an hour before kickoff, with both sets of fans exchanging chants and insults before the massive displays that have become synonymous with the match were unfurled as the teams emerged.

However, once the game began, there was really only one team on the field, with nominal away side Inter looking the more settled and dynamic on the back of five straight wins and their recent hot form.

It didn't take long for the visitors to open the scoring, and it was a fantastic Dzeko goal in the eighth minute that did it.

The Bosnian striker held off Davide Calabria before meeting Hakan Calhanoglu's inswinging corner with a perfect volley that gave Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan no chance.

Inter went for Milan with their tails up and their fans jumping for joy in the Curva Nord, and Mkhitaryan doubled their lead three minutes later.

Federico Dimarco was sent scurrying down the left flank, and his low cut-back was initially left by Lautaro Martinez before being collected by Armenian midfielder Mkhitaryan, who smashed in his fifth goal of the season.

Milan created nothing of note without Leao and were three goals down after just a quarter of an hour when Calhanoglu nearly silenced his former supporters with a long-range drive that crashed off the post.

Martinez then won a penalty, which was correctly overturned by referee Jesus Gil Manzano after a review of the pitch-side monitor.

When Dzeko was one-on-one with Maignan in the 53rd minute, he missed a great chance to seal the match and possibly the tie, and 10 minutes later, while Milan's fans unleashed a volley of flares and explosives, Tonali held his head in despair after striking the bottom of the post.

However, that was Milan's final major chance of the game, as Inter comfortably held off their opponents for the final half-hour and then basked in the applause of their fans, who are dreaming of a trip to Turkey.